Equine Guelph has announced that it is setting up a free virtual classroom for youth (13 – 17), where they will be able to take a Horse Behaviour & Safety course on demand until February 2021.

The Free Youth Horse Behaviour & Safety course (click here) will launch on November 6 on TheHorsePortal.ca and remain open until February 6. The self-paced course has been made possible thanks to Equine Guelph’s safety partners: ESSO, Kubota Canada, Ontario Equestrian, SSG Gloves, System Fencing and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.

With no specific time to be online, the on-demand platform is set up to be super flexible and user friendly. There is approximately two weeks' worth of material and activities, but kids can also keep coming back as often as they like for three months. Course Topics include:

• Horse Behaviour – Wild vs Stabled
• How Horses See and Hear
• Herd Behaviour – How Horses Interact with Each Other
• Horse Handling – Basic Safety Around Horses
• Rider/Helmet Safety
• Safe Trailering – Basics
• Fire Safety
• Safety around the Barn and Paddocks
• Returning from an Injury

There will be many more points to ponder as students go through a multitude of videos from industry professionals, including past expert guest speaker Dr. Rebecca Gimenez-Husted. As a world-renowned instructor on technical large animal emergency rescue, Dr. Gimenez has a wealth of experience when it comes to horse behaviour and safe handling. For more information on Dr. Gimenez, click here.

The course, valued at $100, has been a game changer for many youth learning to 'speak horse,' and also for adults who have taken the offering designed for those over 18. The next adult offering will run from November 30 – December 11 (click here). One of Equine Guelph's students from Uganda was recognized by their Olympic committee for the knowledge she gained, and how it could be applied in their equine community (she tells her story below).

(With files from Equine Guelph)